Williams hails new Formula 2 car

The Formula 1 team principal, who along with Williams co-owner Patrick Head, was present at the official launch of the car at the Kent venue, said that the revived category represented excellent value for money.

"When I first heard about this, I wasn't particularly impressed - I feared it would take resources away from Formula 1," said Williams. "But it has been a lesson for me - I don't know how you can go racing so cheaply.

"I think with 450bhp the car will need respect as well as skill and people will now be looking at two streams into F1 with F2 as well as GP2."

British Touring Car Championship regular Steven Kane took the 450bhp Audi-powered car on a handful of demonstration laps, having previously shaken the car down at Jonathan Palmer's Bedford Autodrome circuit two weeks ago.

"To see it for the first time was a real experience because it's quite a bit of kit," said Kane. "We still haven't really started pushing the performance.

"Just from last night to this morning we lowered the ride height by five mm and now we're on the limiter half way down the straight. We've not even put a set-up on it yet, I'm sure there is a lot of speed in the car that is yet to be found."

Kane, a former McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award winner, said that F2 was a great addition to the career ladder for aspiring racers and added that he wished it had been available when he was coming through the ranks.

"I'm in touring cars now because there was nothing like Formula 2 around a couple of years ago when I needed it," he said.